A Barbadian swim club with ambitions to tackle athlete burnout, strengthen technical development and position the island as a destination for sports tourism, has gained the support of Minister of Sports and Community Empowerment Charles Griffith.

The initiative, led by New Wave Swim Club, was highlighted during a meet-and-greet session with the minister at the Barbados Aquatic Centre in Wildey, St Michael, where swimmers taking part in a two-week summer clinic were introduced to visiting coach Kyle Dougan of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Head coach and owner of New Wave Swim School, Akilah Lashley, described the initiative as a part of a wider sports tourism vision aimed at bringing elite coach talent to Barbados rather than requiring local athletes to travel overseas for exposure and development opportunities.